Effects of Care Models to Improve General Medical Outcomes for Individuals With Serious Mental Illness

Bradford DW, Slubicki MN, McDuffie J, Kilbourne A, Nagi A, Williams JW. Effects of Care Models to Improve General Medical Outcomes for Individuals With Serious Mental Illness. Washington (DC): Department of Veterans Affairs (US); 2011.

Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) have shortened life expectancies relative to the general population to an extent that is not explained by unnatural causes such as suicide or accidents. Numerous studies show higher rates of acute and chronic illnesses, lower quality general medical care and worse outcomes in individuals with SMI. The issues that influence general medical outcomes for individuals with SMI are complex and overlapping and likely vary by disease state. Relevant factors can be categorized to include population characteristics, contextual and system factors, provider factors, and community resources. Interventions aimed at improving general medical outcomes in this population could be directed at any one, or several, of these factors. The organization of service delivery for individuals with SMI may be the most modifiable of the many factors that impact general medical outcomes in this population. In this review, we sought to evaluate models of care designed to improve general medical outcomes among individuals with SMI.